Shoe construction



1956 A. E. DMONIER 2,769,252

SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1954 INVENTOR. 44K! 5, Maw/5A" UnitedStates Patent SHOE CONSTRUCTION Alice E. Monier, Ypsilanti, Mich.

Application December 2, 1954, Serial No. 472,589

4 Claims. Cl. 36-85) The present invention relates to a novel shoe, andmore particularly to a shoe construction which is designed to aid thewearer to improve his or her figure and posture by strengtheningtheabdominal muscles.

As is well known, the vast majority of people whether male or female,but particularly the latter, have a strong desire to keep their figuresas neat and trim as possible. A protruding abdomen is consideredespecially undesirable. It has been found that this condition can bealleviated to a great extent in obese people, and completely in moreslender people, whose posture may be poor by a planned program forexercising the abdominal muscles.

It is the'principal object of the present invention to provide anov'elshoe construction which can be utilized for limited periods of time sothat when the wearer walks the abdominal muscles will be exercised insuch a manner as to strengthen them and tend to produce in the wearer aflat abdomen.

It is another object of the present invention to produce a novel shoeconstruction of the foregoing character which is constructed andarranged to have an elevated toe portion so that the wearer of the shoewill be required to walk with his or her toes raised above the heels,thereby producing an abnormal walking or standing position which resultsin exercising the muscles of the abdomen.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novelshoe construction of the foregoing character which is proportioned togive the optimum results and which will not be injurious to the feet ofthe wearer and will provide maximum comfort.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesign-ate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a section of a shoe construction embodying the presentinvention, the sole and heel being shown in section;

Fig. 2 illustrates the present invention as it is used by a wearer;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the sole and heel portions of theshoe construction as they will be fitted to the foot of a prospectiveuser; and

Fig. 4 illustrates schematically the sole and heel portions and thedimensions thereof.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings a more detailed description of theinvention will be given. The shoe is preferably constructed in its upperportions much the same as conventional shoes, and it is to be understoodthat other suitable designs than that illustrated may be used. When theillustrated shoe construction is worn, it will be in the inclinedposition shown, resulting in the heel of the wearer bearing against theupper rear portion of the shoe as at 12. For this reason, the rearportion is cut a little lower than the conventional shoe so that therear upper edge 12 does not cut into the foot of the wearer. Also, inorder to provide a more comfortable shoe, a soft inner lining 14 and anarch support 16 may be added.

The under portion of the shoe 10 includes a relatively stiff sole 18having a rubber insert 20 at the rear which acts in the same manner asthe rubber heel of a conventional shoe, but as can be seen in thedrawings, the insert 20 does not project below the plane of the stiffsole 18,

and thus, does not serve to elevate the heel of the wearer. It also hasa flat portion 22 near its tip to provide a larger walking surface.

Rig-idly secured to the forward portion of sole 18 is an elevating toemember 24 which serves to elevate the toe portion of the shoe to aconsiderable extent. When shoes embodying the present invention areworn, the toes of the wearer will be elevated as shown in Fig. 2. Thisresults in the wearer walking or standing in a state of unequilibrium sothat the muscles of the abdomen are necessarily drawn tense. It is foundthat shoes having the relativedimensions shown in the drawings are mostsatisfactory for effecting the optimum results of exercis ing themuscles of the abdomen so that they will thereafter tend to maintain aflat abdomen.

In fitting a shoe embodying the present invention to a prospectivewearer, it is initially desirable to select a shoe in which the contactpoint 26 is located on a line 28 perpendicular to the sole 18 and whichwill pass through the second joint of the big toe of the wearer, as at30. One embodiment of the present invention which has been found to beextremely effective in carrying out the objects of the invention has thesame relative proportions of the sole and heel construction as areschematically illustrated in Fig. 4. Referring to this figure it will beseen that the dimension 32 is determined in each instance by the foot ofthe prospective wearer, and in particular by the distance between thejoint 30 and the rear of the heel of 'such wearer.

The base 34 of the toe member 24 is parallel to the sole 18 and thelimits of dimension 36 are from one to three and one half inches. Theforward edge 38 of the base 34 is preferably rounded to a small extentto facilitate walking. Under normal circumstances the angle 40 should bethirty degrees or less, and the dimension 42 should be no greater thanone quarter the value of dimension 44. The latter will vary, dependingon the length of dimension 32, but preferably will not be less than oneand one half inches nor more than four inches.

A shoe construction having the characteristics described above and therelative proportions shown in the drawings is found to be admirablysuited for carrying out the objects of the present invention. While thepresent invention can be beneficially used by both sexes, it isespecially well suited for housewives and the like who spend aconsiderable portion of each day in the home doing housework or otherchores. The invention can be used for limited periods of time each daywhile the housework is being done and very effective results can then beobtained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe for use in exercising the muscles of the abdomen comprising anupper and a relatively rigid full sole, flat on its under surface withthe heel end of said under surface cut-out for receiving an insert, arubber-like insert secured to the sole in the cut-out, said inserthaving a flat surface inclined rearwardly and upwardly away from theplane containing the under surface of said sole so that no portion ofsaid insert projects below said plane, and an elevating member securedto the underside of said sole at the forward end only thereof formaintaining the forward part of the shoe substantially higher than therear of the shoe, said elevating member having a flat base parallel tosaid sole and a flat inclined portion sloping from said base upwardly toa position substantially vertically even with the front edge of saidsole, said insert being inclined to said sole at the same angle that theelevating member causes the sole to be inclined to a horizontal surfaceon which the shoe is resting so that the flat surface of said insertwill be in the plane of said horizontal surface.

2. A shoe for use in exercising the muscles of the abdomen comprising anupper and a relatively rigid full sole, flat on its under surface withthe heel end of said under surface cut-out for receiving an insert, arubber-like insert secured to the sole in the cut-out, said inserthaving a flat surface inclined upwardly rearwardly and away from theplane containing the under surface of the sole so that no portion ofsaid insert projects below said plane, and an elevating member securedto the underside of said sole at the forward end only thereof formaintaining the forward part of the shoe substantially higher than therear of the shoe, said elevating member having a fiat base parallel tosaid sole and a flat inclined portion sloping from said base upwardly toa position substantially vertically even with the front edge of saidsole, the rear edge of said flat base being in a plane perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of said shoe, said plane passing through the upperportion of the shoe which is normally occupied by the second joint ofthe large toe of the wearer, said insert being inclined to said sole atthe same angle that the elevating member causes the sole to be inclinedto a horizontal surface on which the shoe is resting so that the flatsurface of said insert will be in the plane of said horizontal surface.

3. A shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein said inclined portion terminatesbelow said sole and a vertical front surface joins the front edge of thesole and the inclined portion, said inclined portion providing a surfacefor use when the wearer wishes to assume a kneeling position.

4. A shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein said flat base extendsapproximately one inch in a fore and aft direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS887,752 Beck et a1 May 19, 1908 973,077 Schwartz Oct. 18, 1910 1,836,825Stuart Dec. 15, 1931 1,887,935 Lake Nov. 15, 1932 2,096,500 McCahan Oct.19, 1937 2,167,035 Westheimer July 25, 1939 2,283,595 Banister May 19,1942 2,518,649 Tydings et ai Aug. 15, 1950 2,588,801 Brunet Mar. 11,1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,220 Austria Sept. 25, 1902 244 Great Britain Mar.29, 1911 306,751 Italy Mar. 31, 1933 354,983 Italy Dec. 16, 1937

